The challenge facing America's higher ed is that legislatures across the
country are cutting funding, student tuitions are skyrocketing and leaving grads
in debt, and faculty are more interested in research that often has limited
value to society.

Professors are typically selected in their
prowess to publish in elite, obscure journals aimed at their colleagues rather
than general society, and teaching is a secondary, dreaded obligation rather
than a rewarded craft.

Universities need to re-invent themselves to
be more responsive to their local communities to become economic engines for
their states. Only then will legislatures see their value and fund them more
adequately.

Our rapidly evolving economy warrants new graduates to be
willing to continue to educate themselves to adapt to new job opportunities.
Many jobs today didn't exist 10 years ago (e.g., social media
administrators, big data social media analysts, etc.), so even incoming freshmen
may not know what kind of job they'll be taking four years later.

Universities need to offer short post-grad programs and certifications that
can provide new skills for workers. Problem is that faculty are so focused on
research, they don't have the new skills themselves to teach others...